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Apps to Keep You on Top of Your Game

Several apps are available to secure and organize your passwords, social media, daily projects and club finances.

Tamara Valdez, ASF Payment Solutions | Aug 01, 2014

We are busier than ever before, and with the growth of social media, many business owners are scrambling to keep up with everyday tasks. Below is a list of apps you can use to secure and organize your passwords, organize your daily calendar, organize your social media and projects, track finances and help you stay on top of what's happening in the world when you're moving at warp speed. All apps listed here are free unless otherwise noted.

How do you keep track of all your passwords and sensitive information? Scribbled on scraps of paper? In notes on your phone?

If so, you are compromising your personal information. The following password management apps are great for storing passwords, credit card information, bank information and more. All three use military grade 256-bit AES encryption for maximum security. Never forget a password again, and keep all your information safe and secure.

Password Manager – password management (iOS) and Keeper (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): These free apps are both great for keeping your sensitive information in your hands and out of reach from prying eyes. Since Password Manager is only for iOS, we added Keeper as another great alternative for other smartphone users.

1Password – password management (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): At $17.99, it's pricey, but 1Password pretty much stores your entire life. From passwords, usernames and credit card information to loyalty program information, your driver's license and even your will, this app has you covered. If they could store your private thoughts, they would.

Keeping up with social media marketing can be a daunting task. Lucky for us, some people out there feel our pain. Both of the following apps will help you schedule and manage social media campaigns.

Hootsuite – social media management (iOS, Android – free trial; plans start at $8.99 per month): This is one of the best products on the market for comprehensive social media management. With Hootsuite, you can manage multiple social media networks in one dashboard, schedule status updates and tweets, analyze your social media traffic and keep track of conversations and view campaign results.

Buffer – social media management (iOS, Android): Buffer is the new kid on the block and is giving Hootsuite a run for its money. Buffer is free and offers the same scheduling option but isn't as robust in the analytics department.

Hootsuite is more robust in many areas, but if you are looking for an easy social media scheduling option, Buffer gets the job done. Hootsuite is free for 30 days, so if you are torn, give them both a test drive.

As a busy club owner, how do you manage your projects, arrange tasks and keep track of your day-to-day schedule? The following apps, Asana and Sunrise, will leave you pleasantly surprised and well-organized.

Asana – project/task management (iOS, Android): Hands down, Asana is the best app for managing individual or group-based tasks, projects and events. Eliminate mass email threads, organize your projects and keep a running tab on what your team is working on. You can even keep tabs on yourself. Set up a list of sales, marketing, programming and other projects you are working on, assign tasks to individuals and go from there. Calm the chaos of project management with Asana…Namaste.

Sunrise – calendar app (iOS, Android): We don't know about you, but around here, if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't exist. Sunrise is a calendar that syncs information across a variety of platforms, including Google Calendar, iCloud, Exchange, LinkedIn, Asana, Evernote and more. Sunrise also connects with Facebook so you can keep up with events and birthdays. Get the weather, map a meeting location in Google Maps and more.

The last few apps do not have much in common but are all great additions to your app arsenal. LinkedIn is singled out from other social media apps, as it is the most underutilized tool for industry networking.

LinkedIn – social media (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone): You are most likely on LinkedIn, but are you really using it? Most people set up an account, input their information and make a few connections. Have you set up a company page or joined an industry networking group? LinkedIn is a great place to find today's thought leaders, articles, mentors, peers and industry gurus. LinkedIn offers more than your average social media site.

Flipboard – personal news magazine (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone): This magazine-style app lets you personalize the news, events, scores, blogs and social media accounts you like to browse over breakfast—in one great interface. Flipboard lets you save the stories you like and share them with others. Honestly, this is just one cool app that will keep you connected to the news you care about the most.

Industry apps – Industry organizations such as Club Industry have apps to keep you connected to industry news, events, trade shows, certifications, workshops and more.